Protest Labor Journalist's exclusion from Korea!

Dated 1/11/99

On Friday November 12, 1999, Labor Video Producer and labor jounalist Steve Zeltzer was prevented from entering Korea. This exclusion is a continuation of the use of the undemocratic Korean National Security Law.

Unionist Zeltzer has actively supported the independent trade union movement in Korea and other independent media activists. He was active in building support for the rights of the Korean Confederation Of Trade Unions (KCTU) to organize and helped build support against labor media repression in Korea.

When he was stopped by Customs at the Kimpo Airport in Seoul, he asked why he was being refused entry. Had he violated any laws or rules in Korea? The Customs staff could not answer.

He was being blocked from attending an International LaborMedia Conference (http://lmedia.nodong.net) which is being co-sponsored by the Korean Confederation of Trade Union and many international labor video/communication activists.

Steve Zeltzer is a co-founder of the Union Producers & Programmers Network (www.mtn.org/les) and Labornet (www.labornet.org) and has been active in the use of video, computers for information and solidarity of US & world labor.

This exclusion is an attack on the rights of all working people to have democratic communication and debate. It also prevents the Korean working people from having the right to hear from labor communicators and trade unionists around the world.

President Kim Dae Jun promised when he was elected,that he would end political repression and discrimination. Is this a continuation of the old policies?

It is time to demand that there be an end to the blacklist of those whose viewpoints the National Security Agency does not like.

Please send a letter of protest to

President Kim Dae Jun
The Blue House
Seoul, Korea

Also please get your union/organization to issue a statement of protest to be sent to Korean
Consulates/Embassies and President Kim Dae Jun